GRUESOME

06.16.11

33 Die in Mexican Drug Gang Battle

Hans Maximo Musielik / AP Photo

Mexico’s bloody drug war has claimed 33 more victims in a span of 24 hours, officials say. Rival cartels are battling for control over the state of Nuevo León, which is home to the city of Monterrey, the nation’s industrial center. Although most of the dead have ties to gangs, two were bodyguards for the state’s governor, and a threatening message to him was found with their bodies. Some of the 33 were killed in direct confrontations, but the bodies of many of the others were found scattered around the city. Authorities pledged not to back down.